what is the most critical aspect when developing a colony on Mars?

Answer 1

Safe living quarters. We would need a good source of oxygen (finding water could help with that), water, and protection from the elements. The winds on Mars sometimes exceed 300 mph; we would need to protect our explorers from those winds. Food could be grown through hydroponics but without a good source of water we could not exist.

Answer 2

Hi Katie. I don't believe that making a colony there would be as difficult as other planets in our solar system. Mars will be cold, and the air thin... but I think a contained colony would be possible. I believe oxygen can be gotten there, and through hydroponics, sustained... likewise, I think there is probably enough water to be found, depending on where the colony is established.

To me, the hard part will be the fact that the supply line to Earth will be so long... two to three years, so colonists will be really stuck if something goes wrong. People do not do well on two and three year voyages inside tiny craft. The psychological pressure on the colonists, both in traveling to and from the colony and in waiting for things to be delivered, would be the most significant problem, in my opinion.

Answer 3

The fact that the humans in that colony will never be able to live outside a pressurized dome without a spacesuit. So life on Mars, for the first colonists, will be like living in a nuclear submarine. Eventually it will be kind of like living in an Antarctic research station. But Mars can never be made earthlike as it is too smal to hold on to an earthlike atmosphere. There may be some carbondioxide left and some water frozen at the poles but the lack of nitrogen will also put serious limitations to how many humans Mars can support as it is an element essential to life.

Answer 4

Gravity and radiation I think. Mars has no global magnetic filed and no ozone layer in its very thin atmosphere, to radiation on the surface is very high compared to Earth.

And gravity on Mars is only 1/3 of Earth. We know that astronauts in zero gravity, in Earth orbit, suffer bone loss and other bad effects. It is not yet known if 1/3 gravity is enough to prevent these effects; all we know for sure is that 1 gravity is enough and 0 is not.

After that, the air on Mars is way too thin, about like air 100,000 feet above the ground on Earth, and it has almost no oxygen. Also, the dust on the surface is believed to be highly toxic. Much worse than any Superfund site on Earth.

Answer 5

The first, most important thing that would be required is a self-sustaining supply of oxygen. Without it, no one would live long enough to get hungry or thirsty. Water already exists there, and with oxygen and water, food can be grown. You can always dig deep into the planet to deal with radiation/shelter issues.

Answer 6

An enormous number of things, but you can encompass it with the word 'sustainability'

a sustainable supply of water and oxygen.

the establishment of a sustainable food supply.

sustainable infrastructure (power generation, etc...)

Still a long way away!

Answer 7

The most important dessert is going to be dehydrated ice cream.

Answer 8

distance from earth to mars

Answer 9

starting a recyclable oxygen system. Don't forget internet access.

Answer 10

Energy. Water is a close second.